Illuminating apparatus

ABSTRACT

An illuminating apparatus includes a first light emitter, a second light emitter which emits light including more predefined color components than light emitted by the first light emitter, and a lighting device which supplies current modulated according to a visible light communication signal, to the first light emitter. The lighting device supplies a constant current to the second light emitter, while the first light emitter is supplied with current.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese PatentApplication Number 2017-106812 filed on May 30, 2017, the entire contentof which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an illuminating apparatus for visiblelight communication, and a signboard.

2. Description of the Related Art

Visible light communication in which an illuminating apparatus or thelike is caused to blink at a high rate that is unrecognizable to humaneyes and the bright and dark pattern created by the blinking is used asa data signal has been proposed. Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2012-69505 discloses a circuit used for such visiblelight communication (or illumination light communication).

SUMMARY

In stores, etc., there are cases where a barcode assigned to a productis read by a barcode reader. When an illuminating apparatus for visiblelight communication illuminates a space in which such a barcode readeris used, there are instances where an error in reading a barcode occurs.

The present disclosure provides an illuminating apparatus for visiblelight communication and a signboard, which are capable of inhibiting anerror in reading a barcode.

An illuminating apparatus according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure includes: a first light emitter; a second light emitter whichemits light including more predefined color components than lightemitted by the first light emitter; and a lighting device which suppliesa first current modulated according to a visible light communicationsignal, to the first light emitter. In the illuminating apparatus, thelighting device supplies, to the second light emitter, one of (a) aconstant current and (b) a second current modulated in reverse phaserelative to the first current, while the first current is supplied tothe first light emitter.

A signboard according to an aspect of the present disclosure includesthe above-described illuminating apparatus, and a display panel that isilluminated by the illuminating apparatus and includes at least one of atext character and a graphic.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to inhibitoccurrence of an error in reading a barcode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The figures depict one or more implementations in accordance with thepresent teaching, by way of examples only, not by way of limitations. Inthe figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram which illustrates a schematic configuration of anilluminating apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagram which illustrates emission spectra of a first lightemitter and a second light emitter;

FIG. 3 is a diagram which illustrates current supplied to the firstlight emitter and current supplied to the second light emitter accordingto Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram which illustrates a detailed configuration of theilluminating apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram which illustrates an example of a specific circuitconfiguration of a constant current power supply circuit;

FIG. 6 is a diagram which illustrates a configuration of a lightingdevice that includes two constant current power supply circuits,according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram which illustrates a schematic configuration of anilluminating apparatus according to a variation example of Embodiment 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram which illustrates emission spectra of a first lightemitting element which emits blue light, a second light emitting elementwhich emits green light, and a third light emitting element which emitsred light;

FIG. 9 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearance of thelighting device when the constant current power supply circuit and afirst modulation circuit are separately housed in different casings;

FIG. 10 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearance of thelighting device when the two constant current power supply circuits andthe first modulation circuit are separately housed in different casings;

FIG. 11 is a diagram which illustrates a detailed configuration of anilluminating apparatus according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 12 is a diagram which illustrates current supplied to a first lightemitter and current supplied to a second light emitter according toEmbodiment 2;

FIG. 13 is a diagram which illustrates a configuration of a lightingdevice that includes two constant current power supply circuits,according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 14 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearance of thelighting device when the constant current power supply circuit, thefirst modulation circuit, and the second modulation circuit areseparately housed in different casings;

FIG. 15 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearance of thelighting device when the two constant current power supply circuit, thefirst modulation circuit, and the second modulation circuit areseparately housed in different casings;

FIG. 16 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearance of asignboard according to Embodiment 3; and

FIG. 17 is a diagram which illustrates an example of a specific aspectof the illuminating apparatus according to Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described withreference to the Drawings. It should be noted that the embodimentsdescribed below each show a general or specific example. Thus, thenumerical values, shapes, materials, structural components, thedisposition and connection of the structural components, and othersdescribed in the following embodiments are mere examples, and do notintend to limit the present disclosure. Furthermore, among thestructural components in the following embodiments, structuralcomponents not recited in any one of the independent claims aredescribed as arbitrary structural components.

In addition, each of the diagrams is a schematic diagram and thus is notnecessarily strictly illustrated. In each of the diagrams, substantiallythe same structural components are assigned with the same referencesigns, and there are instances where redundant descriptions are omittedor simplified.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments, repeating the state inwhich the illuminating apparatus is turned on and off may be referred toherein as “blink”, “blinks”, etc., for convenience.

Embodiment 1 General Configuration

The following describes an illuminating apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram whichillustrates a general configuration of the illuminating apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1.

Illuminating apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes lightingdevice 10, first light emitter 70, and second light emitter 80.Illuminating apparatus 100 is an apparatus which illuminates a spacewith mixed light (or synthetic light) obtained by causing both firstlight emitter 70 and second light emitter 80 to emit light by lightingdevice 10. The mixed light is, for example, white light.

In addition, illuminating apparatus 100 is an illuminating apparatus forvisible light communication, and an intensity of the above-describedmixed light changes at a high rate that is unrecognizable to human eyesaccording to a visible light communication signal. A mobile terminalsuch as a smartphone which includes an imaging device is capable ofrecognizing, as a data signal, brightness or darkness created accordingto a change in the intensity of mixed light.

Here, first light emitter 70 and second light emitter 80 each emit whitelight. However, the color temperature of the white light differs. FIG. 2is a diagram which illustrates emission spectra of first light emitter70 and second light emitter 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, first light emitter 70 emits white lighthaving a color temperature higher than a color temperature of whitelight emitted by second light emitter 80. The color temperature (a firstcolor temperature) of white light emitted by first light emitter 70 is,for example, 6000 K, and the color temperature (a second colortemperature) of white light emitted by second light emitter 80 is, forexample, 3000 K. In other words, second light emitter 80 emits lightincluding more red components than light emitted by first light emitter70.

As described above, light emitted by second light emitter 80 includesmore red components than light emitted by first light emitter 70. Thismeans that, for example, when a first emission spectrum of first lightemitter 70 which is normalized and a second emission spectrum of secondlight emitter 80 which is normalized are compared, a light intensity ofthe second emission spectrum is higher than a light intensity of thefirst emission spectrum at wavelengths around 650 nm (e.g., wavelengthswhich belong to the range of from 630 nm to 670 nm, inclusive).

Meanwhile, a barcode reader reads a barcode by, for example, irradiatinga barcode with a laser beam which is emitted by a semiconductor laserand has an emission peak wavelength at a wavelength around 650 nm, andreceiving information indicating brightness or darkness of reflectionlight from the barcode by an Si photo diode. FIG. 2 also illustrates anemission spectrum of the semiconductor laser for a barcode reader and aspectral sensitivity of an Si photo diode. The Si photo diode has aspectral sensitivity at a wavelength shorter than 1100 nm whichcorresponds to a band gap. The spectral sensitivity of the Si photodiode has a peak in a range from 900 nm to 1100 nm, and the spectralsensitivity is lowered with decreasing wavelength.

Lighting device 10 included in illuminating apparatus 100 suppliescurrent i1 which is modulated according to a visible light communicationsignal, to first light emitter 70. As a result, first light emitter 70blinks according to the visible light communication signal. In addition,lighting device 10 supplies current i2, which is a constant current, tosecond light emitter 80 while first light emitter 70 is supplied withcurrent i1. It should be noted that, here, constant current i2 is notstrictly meaning a constant current, but means a substantially constantcurrent (current that is substantially constant) which lighting device10 supplies to second light emitter 80 with the intention of constantcurrent driving. The above-described constant current i2 may slightlychange due to on or off of first switching element 33 which will bedescribed later, a power supply noise, etc.

As a result of being supplied with constant current i2 by lightingdevice 10, second light emitter 80 continues to emit light at a constantbrightness level while first light emitter 70 is supplied with currenti1. FIG. 3 is a diagram which illustrates current i1 ((a) in FIG. 3)supplied to first light emitter 70 and current i2 ((b) in FIG. 3)supplied to second light emitter 80.

According to this diagram, the intensity of mixed light of light emittedby first light emitter 70 and light emitted by second light emitter 80,which is emitted from illuminating apparatus 100, changes according to avisible light communication signal; however, second light emitter 80,which emits light having a relatively large number of red components,emits light at a constant brightness level. For that reason, amodulation degree of light (a difference between brightness and darknessof light) decreases in a red wavelength band (a wave length band around650 nm). Accordingly, the barcode reader which reads brightness ordarkness of light of reflection light in the red wavelength band is lessinfluenced by a change in the intensity of mixed light emitted byilluminating apparatus 100. In other words, illuminating apparatus 100is capable of inhibiting occurrence of an error in reading a barcode.The following describes the detail of each of the structural componentsincluded in illuminating apparatus 100.

First Light Emitter and Second Light Emitter

First, first light emitter 70 and second light emitter 80 will bedescribed. First light emitter 70 is a light emitting module whichfunctions as a light source of illuminating apparatus 100, and emits,for example, white light having the first color temperature. First lightemitter 70 includes a plurality of first light emitting elements 71;however, at least one first light emitting element 71 may be sufficientto be included by first light emitter 70.

First light emitter 70 is a light emitting module having, for example, asurface mount device (SMD) structure. In this case, each of theplurality of first light emitting elements 71 is an SMD LED elementwhich emits while light having the first color temperature. First lightemitter 70 may be a light emitting module having a chip on board (COB)structure. In this case, each of the plurality of first light emittingelements 71 is, for example, an LED chip which emits blue light, and issealed by a sealing resin including a yellow or green phosphor.

In FIG. 1, although the plurality of first light emitting elements 71are connected in series, the plurality of first light emitting elements71 may be electrically connected in any manner. First light emitter 70may have a configuration in which, for example, a plurality of sets offirst light emitting elements 71 connected in series are connected inparallel.

Second light emitter 80 is a light emitting module which functions as alight source of illuminating apparatus 100, and emits, for example,white light having a second color temperature lower than the first colortemperature. Second light emitter 80 includes a plurality of secondlight emitting elements 81; however, at least one second light emittingelement 81 may be sufficient to be included by second light emitter 80.It should be noted that it is sufficient that the second colortemperature is significantly lower than the first color temperature. Forexample, it is sufficient that the second color temperature is lowerthan the first color temperature by at least 1000 K.

Second light emitter 80 is, for example, an SMD light emitting module.In this case, second light emitting element 81 is an SMD LED elementwhich emits white light having the second color temperature. Secondlight emitter 80 may be a light emitting module having a chip on board(COB) structure. In this case, second light emitting element 81 is, forexample, an LED chip which emits blue light, and is sealed by a sealingresin including a yellow or green phosphor.

Although the plurality of second light emitting elements 81 areconnected in series in FIG. 1, the plurality of second light emittingelements 81 may be electrically connected in any manner. Second lightemitter 80 may have a configuration in which, for example, a pluralityof sets of second light emitting elements 81 connected in series areconnected in parallel.

It should be noted that first light emitting elements 71 and secondlight emitting elements 81 may each be other light emitting element suchas an organic EL element, an inorganic EL element, a semiconductorlaser, etc.

Lighting Device

Next, lighting device 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram whichillustrates a detailed configuration of illuminating apparatus 100 andlighting device 10 according to Embodiment 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4,lighting device 10 includes constant current power supply circuit 20,first modulation circuit 30, first capacitor 50, and second capacitor60.

Constant current power supply circuit 20 includes input terminal 21 a,input terminal 21 b, output terminal 22 a, and output terminal 22 b.Constant current power supply circuit 20 converts AC power supplied frompower system 90 via input terminal 21 a and input terminal 21 b into DCpower, and outputs substantially constant DC current via output terminal22 a and output terminal 22 b. A specific circuit configuration ofconstant current power supply circuit 20 will be described later.

First modulation circuit 30 modulates current supplied from constantcurrent power supply circuit 20 or first capacitor 50, according to avisible light communication signal, and supplies the current to firstlight emitter 70. First modulation circuit 30 includes, specifically,input terminal 31 a, input terminal 31 b, output terminal 32 a, outputterminal 32 b, first switching element 33, power supply circuit forcontroller 34, and controller 35. The plurality of first light emittingelements 71 are electrically connected between output terminal 32 a andoutput terminal 32 b. As described above, the plurality of first lightemitting elements 71 are connected in series. In addition, firstcapacitor 50 is inserted between input terminal 31 a and input terminal31 b. First capacitor 50 may or may not be included in first modulationcircuit 30.

First switching element 33 is connected in series to first light emitter70, and switched by controller 35 according to a first visible lightcommunication signal. First switching element 33 is, for example, afield effect transistor (FET).

Power supply circuit for controller 34 is a circuit which generates,from an output voltage of constant current power supply circuit 20, apower supply voltage for causing controller 35 to operate. Power supplycircuit for controller 34 is, for example, a small switching regulator,a series regulator, or the like which outputs a constant voltage.

Controller 35 obtains a visible light communication signal from insideor outside of controller 35, and performs control of switching firstswitching element 33 according to the obtained first visible lightcommunication signal. As a result, first light emitter 70 blinksaccording to the visible light communication signal.

Controller 35 is, specifically, a microcomputer which is operated by thepower supply voltage generated by power supply circuit for controller34. Controller 35 is, for example, a large scale integration (LSI)including a read only memory (ROM) which stores a program, a randomaccess memory (RAM) as a temporal storage area, a processor whichexecutes a program, input/output circuits such as an A/D converter and aD/A converter, a counter/timer, etc. Controller 35, for example, turnson or off first switching element 33 according to a built-in program.

First capacitor 50 is inserted between input terminal 31 a and inputterminal 31 b. In other words, first capacitor 50 is connected to firstmodulation circuit 30 in parallel. First capacitor 50 is, for example,an electrolytic capacitor. First capacitor 50 serves as a current pathto second light emitter 80 when first switching element 33 is off. Firstcapacitor 50 may be formed using a capacitor having a relatively largecapacitance.

Second capacitor 60 is connected to second light emitter 80 in parallel.Second capacitor 60 is, for example, an electrolytic capacitor. Electriccharges for continuing current supply to second light emitter 80 whenfirst switching element 33 is off are accumulated in second capacitor60. It should be noted that lighting device 10 need not necessarilyinclude second capacitor 60.

Specific Configuration of Constant Current Power Supply Circuit

Next, a specific circuit configuration of constant current power supplycircuit 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram which illustrates anexample of a specific circuit configuration of constant current powersupply circuit 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, constant current power supply circuit 20mainly includes filtering circuit 23, rectifier circuit 24, capacitorC1, boost converter circuit 25, and flyback converter circuit 26.

Filtering circuit 23 is a circuit which reduces noise included in ACpower supplied from power system 90 and noise generated in converter andoutflowing to power system 90. Filtering circuit 23 is formed using, forexample, an inductor and a capacitor.

Rectifier circuit 24 is a circuit which converts AC power whose noise isreduced by filtering circuit 23, into DC power. Rectifier circuit 24 is,specifically, a full-wave rectifier circuit formed using a diode bridge.

Boost converter circuit 25 is a circuit which performs a power factorcorrection control. Boost converter circuit 25 includes choke coil L1,switching element S1, diode D1, smoothing capacitor C2, and controller25 a.

Controller 25 a is a control circuit (e.g., a control IC) which performsswitching control on switching element S1 at a high rate. Switchingelement S1 is, for example, an FET.

When switching element S1 is turned on by controller 25 a, energy isaccumulated in choke coil L1. When switch element S1 is turned off,choke coil L1 releases energy so as to maintain current at a level whenswitch element S1 is on. As a result, a DC voltage is output via diodeD1. The output DC voltage is smoothed by smoothing capacitor C2.Smoothing capacitor C2 is, for example, an electrolytic capacitor.

Flyback converter circuit 26 is a circuit which converts thesubstantially constant DC voltage output from boost converter circuit 25into a substantially constant current. Flyback converter circuit 26includes trans T, switching element S2, diode D2, smoothing capacitorC3, and controller 26 a.

Controller 26 a is a control circuit (e.g., a control IC) which performsswitching control at a high rate (repeating turning on and off) onswitching element S2. Switching element S2 is, for example, an FET. Whenswitching element S2 is switched by controller 26 a, energy istransmitted from a primary coil to a secondary coil of trans T byelectromagnetic induction, and current flows through the secondary coil.This current is rectified by diode D2 and smoothed by smoothingcapacitor C3. Smoothing capacitor C3, stated differently, reduces aripple current. Smoothing capacitor C3 is, for example, an electrolyticcapacitor, and connected between output terminal 22 a and outputterminal 22 b.

It should be noted that controller 26 a monitors current flowing thoughthe primary coil or current flowing through the secondary coil, andperforms control of changing a switching frequency or a duty ratio suchthat the monitored current becomes substantially constant. Whenmonitoring current flowing through the secondary coil, an insulatingelement such as a photocoupler is used.

Here, the switching frequency (operation frequency of flyback convertercircuit 26) of controller 26 a may be higher than a frequencycorresponding to a bit rate of a visible light communication signal(e.g., approximately from several kHz to several MHz). In this manner,electrical impedance of smoothing capacitor C3 to a ripple currentdecreases, and thus the ripple current is easily reduced by smoothingcapacitor C3.

It should be noted that, in lighting device 10, first capacitor 50 andsecond capacitor 60 perform similar functions as smooth capacitor C3.Accordingly, constant current power supply circuit 20 need notnecessarily include smoothing capacitor C3 between the output terminals.Omission of smoothing capacitor C3 realizes reduction of the number ofcomponents of lighting device 10.

Variation of Lighting Device

The above-described configuration of lighting device 10 is one example.For example, first modulation circuit 30 may have a different circuitconfiguration. In addition, constant current power supply circuit 20 mayhave a different circuit configuration as long as constant current powersupply circuit 20 is a power supply circuit that functions as a constantcurrent source. In addition, lighting device 10 may include two constantcurrent power supply circuits 20. FIG. 6 is a diagram which illustratesa configuration of a lighting device that includes two constant currentpower supply circuits 20.

Lighting device 10 a illustrated in FIG. 6 includes constant currentpower supply circuit 20 a which supplies a constant current to firstmodulation circuit 30 for causing first light emitter 70 to emit light,and constant current power supply circuit 20 b which supplies constantcurrent i2 to second light emitter 80 for causing second light emitter80 to emit light. Each of constant current power supply circuit 20 a andconstant current power supply circuit 20 b has, for example, aconfiguration same as or similar to the configuration of constantcurrent power supply circuit 20.

Such lighting device 10 a is capable of more stably supplying current tosecond light emitter 80 than lighting device 10. It should be noted thatlighting device 10 a need not necessarily include first capacitor 50 andsecond capacitor 60.

Variations of First Light Emitter and Second Light Emitter

Illuminating apparatus 100 may emit white light on the whole.Illuminating apparatus 100 may emit white light by, for example, acombination of a first light emitting element which emits blue light, asecond light emitting element which emits green light, and a third lightemitting element which emits red light. FIG. 7 is a diagram whichillustrates a general configuration of such an illuminating apparatusaccording to a variation example of Embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a diagramwhich illustrates emission spectra of a first light emitting elementwhich emits blue light, a second light emitting element which emitsgreen light, and a third light emitting element which emits red light.

Illuminating apparatus 100 a illustrated in FIG. 7 includes lightingdevice 10, first light emitter 70 a, and second light emitter 80 a.Illuminating apparatus 100 a may include lighting device 10 a instead oflighting device 10.

First light emitter 70 a includes first light emitting element 71 awhich emits blue light and second light emitting element 72 a whichemits green light. Each of first light emitting element 71 a and secondlight emitting element 72 a is, for example, an LED chip, however, maybe a different light emitting element such as an organic EL element.Blue light is, for example, monochromatic light having an emission peakwavelength at 450 nm or greater and 495 nm or less, and green light is,for example, monochromatic light having an emission peak wavelength at495 nm or greater and 570 nm or less. It should be noted that althoughfirst light emitter 70 a does not include third light emitting element81 a which emits red light, first light emitter 70 a may include a smallnumber of third light emitting element 81 a.

In contrast, second light emitter 80 a includes third light emittingelement 81 a which emits red light. Third light emitting element 81 ais, for example, an LED chip, however, may be a different light emittingelement such as an organic EL element. Red light is, for example,monochromatic light having an emission peak wavelength at 620 nm orgreater and 750 nm or less. Second light emitter 80 a as described aboveemits light including more red components than light emitted by firstlight emitter 70 a. It should be noted that although second lightemitter 80 a does not include first light emitting element 71 a andsecond light emitting element 72 a, and emits monochromatic light ofred, second light emitter 80 a may include a small number of first lightemitting element 71 a, or a small number of second light emittingelement 72 a.

In illuminating apparatus 100 a as well, lighting device 10 suppliescurrent i1 which is modulated according to a visible light communicationsignal to first light emitter 70 a, and supplies current i2 which is aconstant current to second light emitter 80 a while first light emitter70 a is supplied with current i1. First light emitter 70 a blinks whilebeing supplied with current i1, and second light emitter 80 a continuesto emit light at a constant brightness level while first light emitter70 a is supplied with current i1.

Mixed light of light from first light emitter 70 a and light from secondlight emitter 80 a, which is emitted by illuminating apparatus 100 a, iswhite light. Although the intensity of the white light changes accordingto a visible light communication signal, since second light emitter 80 awhich emits red light emits light at a constant brightness level, amodulation degree of light (i.e., a difference between brightness anddarkness of light) decreases in a red wavelength band (i.e., awavelength band around 650 nm). The modulation degree of light in thered wavelength band becomes nearly zero. Accordingly, the barcode readerwhich reads brightness or darkness of reflection light in the redwavelength band is less influenced by a change in the intensity of whitelight emitted by illuminating apparatus 100 a. In other words,illuminating apparatus 100 a is capable of inhibiting occurrence of anerror in reading a barcode.

Casing

Lighting device 10 may include a casing. Lighting device 10 may includea single casing which houses constant current power supply circuit 20and first modulation circuit 30. Alternatively, constant current powersupply circuit 20 and first modulation circuit 30 may be housedseparately in different casings. FIG. 9 is a diagram which illustratesan external appearance of lighting device 10 when constant current powersupply circuit 20 and first modulation circuit 30 are separately housedin different casings.

In the example of FIG. 9, lighting device 10 includes casing 101 whichhouses constant current power supply circuit 20 and casing 102 whichhouses first modulation circuit 30. Casing 101 and casing 102 are eachformed using a metal material such as aluminum, for example. However,casing 101 and casing 102 may be each formed using a resin material suchas a polybutylene terephthalate resin.

As described above, by separately housing constant current power supplycircuit 20 and first modulation circuit 30 into different casings, it ispossible to facilitate attaching and detaching of first modulationcircuit 30 to and from constant current power supply circuit 20.

In the same manner as above, lighting device 10 a may include a casing.Lighting device 10 a may include a single casing which houses constantcurrent power supply circuit 20 a, constant current power supply circuit20 b, and first modulation circuit 30. Alternatively, constant currentpower supply circuit 20 a, constant current power supply circuit 20 b,and first modulation circuit 30 may be housed separately in differentcasings. FIG. 10 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearanceof lighting device 10 a when constant current power supply circuit 20 a,constant current power supply circuit 20 b, and first modulation circuit30 are separately housed in different casings.

In the example of FIG. 10, lighting device 10 a includes casing 103which houses constant current power supply circuit 20 a, casing 104which houses constant current power supply circuit 20 b, and casing 102which houses first modulation circuit 30. Casing 102, casing 103, andcasing 104 are each formed using a metal material such as aluminum, forexample. However, casing 102, casing 103, and casing 104 may be eachformed using a resin material such as a polybutylene terephthalateresin.

As described above, by separately housing constant current power supplycircuit 20 a, constant current power supply circuit 20 b, and firstmodulation circuit 30 into different casings, it is possible tofacilitate attaching and detaching of constant current power supplycircuit 20 a, constant current power supply circuit 20 b, and firstmodulation circuit 30.

Embodiment 2 Configuration of Illuminating Apparatus according toEmbodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, lighting device 10 or lighting device 10 a suppliescurrent i2, which is a constant current, to second light emitter 80,while first light emitter 70 is supplied with current i1. However,lighting device 10 may supply current i3 which is modulated in reversephase relative to current i1, to second light emitter 80, while firstlight emitter 70 is supplied with current i1. The following describes anilluminating apparatus according to Embodiment 2 which include theabove-described lighting device. FIG. 11 is a diagram which illustratesa detailed configuration of an illuminating apparatus according toEmbodiment 2. It should be noted that, in Embodiment 2 below, thedifference from Embodiment 1 will be mainly described, and descriptionfor the matters that have already been described will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, illuminating apparatus 100 b includeslighting device 10 b, first light emitter 70, and second light emitter80. Lighting device 10 b includes constant current power supply circuit20, first modulation circuit 30, second modulation circuit 40, firstcapacitor 50, and second capacitor 60. It should be noted that, althoughfirst capacitor 50 is included in first modulation circuit 30 in FIG.11, first capacitor 50 may or may not be included in first modulationcircuit 30. Likewise, although second capacitor 60 is included in secondmodulation circuit 40 in FIG. 11, second capacitor 60 may or may not beincluded in second modulation circuit 40. Lighting device 10 b isdifferent from lighting device 10 in that lighting device 10 b furtherincludes second modulation circuit 40.

In lighting device 10 b, first modulation circuit 30 and secondmodulation circuit 40 are connected in series between output terminal 22a and output terminal 22 b of constant current power supply circuit 20.More specifically, output terminal 22 a of constant current power supplycircuit 20 and input terminal 31 a of first modulation circuit 30 areelectrically connected, input terminal 31 b of first modulation circuit30 and input terminal 41 a of second modulation circuit 40 areelectrically connected, and input terminal 41 b of second modulationcircuit 40 and output terminal 22 b of constant current power supplycircuit 20 are electrically connected.

With this configuration, lighting device 10 b is capable of supplyingcurrent on which different modulation has been performed, separately tofirst light emitter 70 and second light emitter 80, by a single constantcurrent power supply circuit 20.

First capacitor 50 is connected to first modulation circuit 30 inparallel. Electric charges for continuing current supply to second lightemitter 70 when second switching element 43 of second modulation circuit40 is off are accumulated in first capacitor 50. In the same manner asabove, second capacitor 60 is connected to second modulation circuit 40in parallel. Electric charges for continuing current supply to secondlight emitter 80 when first switching element 33 is off are accumulatedin second capacitor 60.

Second modulation circuit 40 includes, specifically, input terminal 41a, input terminal 41 b, output terminal 42 a, output terminal 42 b,second switching element 43, power supply circuit for controller 44,controller 45, and resistive element 46. A plurality of second lightemitting elements 81 are electrically connected between output terminal42 a and output terminal 42 b. As described above, the plurality ofsecond light emitting elements 81 are connected in series.

Although second modulation circuit 40 has substantially the sameconfiguration as the configuration of first modulation circuit 30,second modulation circuit 40 supplies, to second light emitter 80,current i3 that is obtained by modulating current supplied from constantcurrent power supply circuit 20 or second capacitor 60 in reverse phaserelative to current i1. FIG. 12 is a diagram which illustrates currenti1 ((a) in FIG. 12) supplied to first light emitter 70 and current i3((b) in FIG. 12) supplied to second light emitter 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, current it is in reverse phase relative tocurrent i3. More specifically, current i3 is at a low level during aperiod in which current i1 is at a high level, and current i3 is at ahigh level during a period in which current i1 is at a low level. Inother words, emission intensity of second light emitter 80 changes inreverse phase relative to emission intensity of first light emitter 70while first light emitter 70 is supplied with current i1.

With this, although the intensity of light emitted by illuminatingapparatus 100 b changes, on the whole, according to a visible lightcommunication signal, a modulation degree of light (a difference betweenbrightness and darkness of light) decreases at a red wavelength band (awavelength band around 650 nm). Accordingly, the barcode reader whichreads brightness or darkness of reflection light in the red wavelengthband is less influenced by a change in the intensity of light emitted byilluminating apparatus 100 b. In other words, illuminating apparatus 100a is capable of inhibiting occurrence of an error in reading a barcode.

For example, the modulation degree of light emitted by first lightemitter 70 is denoted as a1, the modulation degree of light emitted bysecond light emitter 80 is denoted as a2, a light intensity of theemission peak wavelength (hereinafter referred to also as a subjectwavelength) of semiconductor laser for a barcode reader in the emissionspectrum of first light emitter 70 is denoted as S1, and a lightintensity of a subject wavelength in the emission spectrum of secondlight emitter 80 is denoted as S2. S1 and S2 are indicated in theabove-described FIG. 2. In this case, when a1:a2=S2:S1, the modulationdegree of light of the subject wavelength is 0. In other words, theintensity of light emitted by illuminating apparatus 100 b changes, onthe whole, according to a visible light communication signal, but thebrightness level of light of a subject wavelength is substantiallyconstant.

It should be noted that, in second modulation circuit 40, resistiveelement 46 is connected in parallel with second switching element 43.Accordingly, second light emitter 80 emits light even when secondswitching element 43 is off. In other words, second light emitter 80continues to emit light while first light emitter 70 is supplied withcurrent i1. However, second modulation circuit 40 need not includeresistive element 46. Second light emitter 80 is capable of emittinglight equivalently if a gate voltage of second switching element 43 iscontrolled and thus current that is at a certain level passes throughsecond switching element 43 even when a gate voltage is at a low level.In addition, second light emitter 80 may blink while first light emitter70 is supplied with current i1.

Variation of Embodiment 2

Lighting device 10 b may include two constant current power supplycircuits 20. FIG. 13 is a diagram which illustrates a configuration of alighting device that includes two constant current power supplycircuits.

Lighting device 10 c illustrated in FIG. 13 includes constant currentpower supply circuit 20 a which supplies a constant current to firstmodulation circuit 30 for causing first light emitter 70 to emit light,and constant current power supply circuit 20 b which supplies current tosecond light emitter 80 for causing second light emitter 80 to emitlight. Each of constant current power supply circuit 20 a and constantcurrent power supply circuit 20 b has, for example, a configuration sameas or similar to constant current power supply circuit 20.

Lighting device 10 c as described above is capable of more stablysupplying current to first light emitter 70 and second light emitter 80than lighting device 10 b.

In addition, lighting device 10 b may include a casing. Lighting device10 b may include a single casing which houses constant current powersupply circuit 20, first modulation circuit 30, and second modulationcircuit 40. Alternatively, constant current power supply circuit 20,first modulation circuit 30, and second modulation circuit 40 may behoused separately in different casings. FIG. 14 is a diagram whichillustrates an external appearance of lighting device 10 b when constantcurrent power supply circuit 20, first modulation circuit 30, and secondmodulation circuit 40 are separately housed in different casings.

In the example of FIG. 14, lighting device 10 includes casing 101 whichhouses constant current power supply circuit 20, casing 102 which housesfirst modulation circuit 30, and casing 105 which houses secondmodulation circuit 40. Casing 101, casing 102, and casing 105 are eachformed using a metal material such as aluminum, for example. However,casing 101, casing 102, and casing 105 may be each formed using a resinmaterial such as a polybutylene terephthalate resin.

As described above, by separately housing constant current power supplycircuit 20, first modulation circuit 30, and second modulation circuit40 into different casings, it is possible to facilitate attaching anddetaching of first modulation circuit 30 and second modulation circuit40 to and from constant current power supply circuit 20.

In the same manner as above, lighting device 10 c may include a casing.Lighting device 10 c may include a single casing which houses constantcurrent power supply circuit 20 a, constant current power supply circuit20 b, first modulation circuit 30, and second modulation circuit 40.Alternatively, constant current power supply circuit 20 a, constantcurrent power supply circuit 20 b, first modulation circuit 30, andsecond modulation circuit 40 may be housed separately in differentcasings. FIG. 15 is a diagram which illustrates an external appearanceof lighting device 10 c when constant current power supply circuit 20 a,constant current power supply circuit 20 b, first modulation circuit 30,and second modulation circuit 40 are separately housed in differentcasings.

In the example of FIG. 15, lighting device 10 c includes casing 103which houses constant current power supply circuit 20 a, casing 104which houses constant current power supply circuit 20 b, casing 102which houses first modulation circuit 30, and casing 105 which housessecond modulation circuit 40. Casing 102, casing 103, casing 104, andcasing 105 are each formed using a metal material such as aluminum, forexample. However, casing 102, casing 103, casing 104, and casing 105 maybe each formed using a resin material such as a polybutyleneterephthalate resin.

As described above, by separately housing constant current power supplycircuit 20 a, constant current power supply circuit 20 b, firstmodulation circuit 30, and second modulation circuit 40 into differentcasings, it is possible to facilitate attaching and detaching ofconstant current power supply circuit 20 a, constant current powersupply circuit 20 b, first modulation circuit 30, and second modulationcircuit 40.

Embodiment 3

Illuminating apparatus 100, illuminating apparatus 100 a, andilluminating apparatus 100 b each have been described as a room-lightingilluminating apparatus which illuminates an indoor space of a store orthe like. Illuminating apparatus 100, illuminating apparatus 100 a, andilluminating apparatus 100 b may each be used as a light source of asignboard, and thereby illuminate a display panel. In addition, thepresent disclosure may be implemented as a signboard which includesilluminating apparatus 100, illuminating apparatus 100 a, orilluminating apparatus 100 b. FIG. 16 is a diagram which illustrates anexternal appearance of a signboard including illuminating apparatus 100.

Signboard 130 illustrated in FIG. 16 includes frame 131 and displaypanel 132. In addition, although not illustrated in the diagram,signboard 130 includes illuminating apparatus 100 in a casing formed byframe body 131 and display panel 132. Among the components ofilluminating apparatus 100, lighting device 10 may be disposed outsidethe casing. It should be noted that signboard 130 may includeilluminating apparatus 100 a or illuminating apparatus 100 b instead ofilluminating apparatus 100.

Display panel 132 covers a region enclosed by frame body 131. Displaypanel 132 is light transmissive and includes at least one of a textcharacter and a graphic.

First light emitter 70 and second light emitter 80 are disposed insidesignboard 130 so as to emit light toward display panel 132. Accordingly,display panel 132 is illuminated by first light emitter 70 and secondlight emitter 80.

Since such signboard 130 includes illuminating apparatus 100, it ispossible to inhibit occurrence of an error in reading a barcode.

It is possible for a user to read a data signal by, for example,capturing an image of display panel 132 by a mobile terminal includingan imaging device, such as a smartphone.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

As described above, illuminating apparatus 100 includes first lightemitter 70, second light emitter 80 which emits light that includes morepredefined color components than light emitted by first light emitter70, and lighting device 10 which supplies current i1 modulated accordingto a visible light communication signal, to first light emitter 70.Lighting device 10 supplies (a) current i2, which is a constant current,to second light emitter 80, while first light emitter 70 is suppliedwith current i1. In addition, lighting device 10 b included inilluminating apparatus 100 b supplies, to second light emitter 80, (b)current i3 modulated in reserve phase relative to current i1. Current i1is one example of a first current, and current i3 is one example of asecond current. Examples of the predefined color components include ared component.

With this, although light emitted by illuminating apparatus 100 andilluminating apparatus 100 b blinks according to a visible lightcommunication signal on the whole, a modulation degree of light (i.e., adifference between brightness and darkness of light) decreases at a redwavelength band (i.e., a wavelength band around 650 nm). Accordingly,the barcode reader which reads brightness or darkness of reflectionlight in the red wavelength band is less influenced by a change in theintensity of light emitted by illuminating apparatus 100 andilluminating apparatus 100 b. In other words, illuminating apparatus 100and illuminating apparatus 100 b are capable of inhibiting occurrence ofan error in reading a barcode.

For example, in illuminating apparatus 100 and illuminating apparatus100 b, first light emitter 70 emits white light having a first colortemperature, and second light emitter 80 emits white light having asecond color temperature that is lower in color temperature than thefirst color temperature.

With this configuration, illuminating apparatus 100 supplies current i2to second light emitter 80 which emits light having a color temperaturelower than a color temperature of light emitted by first light emitter70, thereby making it possible to inhibit occurrence of an error inreading a barcode. Illuminating apparatus 100 b supplies current i3 tosecond light emitter 80, thereby making it possible to inhibitoccurrence of an error in reading a barcode.

For example, in illuminating apparatus 100 a, first light emitter 70 aincludes first light emitting element 71 a which emits blue light andsecond light emitting element 72 a which emits green light, and secondlight emitter 80 a includes third light emitting element 81 a whichemits red light. Lighting device 10 supplies current i2, which is aconstant current, to second light emitter 80, while first light emitter70 a is supplied with current i1.

With this configuration, illuminating apparatus 100 a supplies currenti2, which is a constant current, to third light emitting element 81 awhich emits red light, thereby making it possible to inhibit occurrenceof an error in reading a barcode.

For example, lighting device 10 includes first modulation circuit 30 andconstant current power supply circuit 20 which supplies a constantcurrent to first modulation circuit 30 and second light emitter 80.First modulation circuit 30 includes first capacitor 50 connected inparallel to first modulation circuit 30. First modulation circuit 30supplies, to first light emitter 70, current i1 that is obtained bymodulating current supplied from constant current power supply circuit20, according to a visible light communication signal.

With this configuration, lighting device 10 is capable of supplyingmodulated current i1 to first light emitter 70 and constant current i2to second light emitter 80 by a single constant current power supplycircuit 20.

For example, lighting device 10 b includes: constant current powersupply circuit 20; and first modulation circuit 30 and second modulationcircuit 40 which are connected in series between output terminal 22 aand output terminal 22 b of constant current power supply circuit 20.First modulation circuit 30 includes first capacitor 50 connected inparallel to first modulation circuit 30. Second modulation circuit 40includes second capacitor 60 connected in parallel to second modulationcircuit 40. First modulation circuit 30 supplies, to first light emitter70, current i1 that is obtained by modulating current supplied fromconstant current power supply circuit 20 or first capacitor 50,according to a visible light communication signal. Second modulationcircuit 40 supplies, to second light emitter 80, current i3 that isobtained by modulating current supplied from constant current powersupply circuit 20 or second capacitor 60, in reverse phase relative tocurrent i1.

With this configuration, lighting device 10 b is capable of supplyingcurrent on which different modulation has been performed, separately tofirst light emitter 70 and second light emitter 80, by a single constantcurrent power supply circuit 20.

For example, first light emitter 70 blinks while current i1 is supplied,and second light emitter 80 continues to emit light while first lightemitter 70 is supplied with current i1.

With this configuration, illuminating apparatus 100, etc. cause firstlight emitter 70 to blink and second light emitter 80 to continue toemit light, thereby making it possible to inhibit occurrence of an errorin reading a barcode.

In addition, signboard 130 includes illuminating apparatus 100, anddisplay panel 132 that is illuminated by illuminating apparatus 100 andincludes at least one of a text character and a graphic.

Since such signboard 130 includes illuminating apparatus 100, it ispossible to inhibit occurrence of an error in reading a barcode.

Other Embodiments

Although the embodiments have been described thus far, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the embodiments.

For example, although it has been described that the first light emitterblinks according to a first visible light communication signal accordingto the foregoing embodiment, the first light emitter need notnecessarily blink. The first light emitter may change in emissionintensity according to the first visible light communication signal. Inother words, the first light emitter may repeat switching between astate of emitting bright light and a state of emitting dark light,instead of repeating turning on and off.

In addition, the circuit configuration described in each of theabove-described embodiments is one example, and the present disclosureis not limited to the above-described circuit configurations. In otherwords, as with the above-described circuit configurations, the presentdisclosure includes circuits capable of implementing the characteristicfunctions of the present disclosure. For example, within the scope thatthe same functions as the above-described circuit configurations can beimplemented, the present disclosure also includes a circuit in which aswitching element (transistor), a resistive element, or a capacitativeelement is connected in series or parallel to a given element.

In addition, the illuminating apparatus for illuminating a spacedescribed in each of the above embodiments is, for example, implementedas a spotlight as illustrated in FIG. 17, but a specific aspect of theilluminating apparatus is not specifically limited. For example, theilluminating apparatus may be a chandelier, a ceiling light, a standlight, a Japanese-style light, a bracket light, a pendant light, a baselight, a downlight, an exterior light, etc.

In addition, although a barcode reader which emits a red laser beam isused in the above-described embodiments, the barcode reader is notlimited to this example, and any barcode reader which emits a laser beamof a color other than red may be used, in order to prevent generation ofnoise. More specifically, the predefined color components are notlimited to the red components, and may be green components, etc., forexample.

Other forms in which various modifications apparent to those skilled inthe art are applied to the embodiments, or forms structured by combiningstructural components of different aspects of the embodiments may beincluded within the scope of the one or plural aspects, unless suchchanges and modifications depart from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

While the foregoing has described one or more embodiments and/or otherexamples, it is understood that various modifications may be madetherein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implementedin various forms and examples, and that they may be applied in numerousapplications, only some of which have been described herein. It isintended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.

1. An illuminating apparatus, comprising: a first light emitter; asecond light emitter which emits light including more predefined colorcomponents than light emitted by the first light emitter; and a lightingdevice which supplies a first current modulated according to a visiblelight communication signal, to the first light emitter, wherein thelighting device supplies a constant current to the second light emitter,while the first current is supplied to the first light emitter.
 2. Theilluminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first lightemitter emits white light having a first color temperature, and thesecond light emitter emits white light having a second color temperaturelower than the first color temperature.
 3. The illuminating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first light emitter includes a firstlight emitting element which emits blue light and a second lightemitting element which emits green light, the second light emitterincludes a third light emitting element which emits red light, and thelighting device supplies the constant current to the second lightemitter while the first current is supplied to the first light emitter.4. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lightingdevice includes: a modulation circuit; and a constant current powersupply circuit which supplies the constant current to the modulationcircuit and the second light emitter, wherein the modulation circuitincludes a capacitor connected in parallel to the modulation circuit,and the modulation circuit supplies the first current to the first lightemitter, the first current being obtained by modulating, according tothe visible light communication signal, current supplied from theconstant current power supply circuit.
 5. The illuminating apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising: a casing which houses theconstant current power supply circuit and the modulation circuit.
 6. Theilluminating apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a firstcasing which houses the constant current power supply circuit; and asecond casing which houses the modulation circuit and is different fromthe first casing.
 7. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first light emitter blinks while the first current issupplied to the first light emitter, and the second light emittercontinues to emit light while the first current is supplied to the firstlight emitter. 8-14. (canceled)
 15. A signboard, comprising: theilluminating apparatus according to claim 1, and a display panel that isilluminated by the illuminating apparatus and includes at least one of atext character and a graphic.
 16. (canceled)